excursions

Centro di Lingua e Cultura Italiana IL FARO offers, included in the tuition prices or for a small fee, the following field trips:

Venice (day trip)
The beautiful city of Venice cannot be missed during a stay in Caorle. We leave in the morning from Caorle by boat and arrive in Venice on Riva degli Schiavoni, not far from San Marco Square. We then proceed to visit some of the most amazing monuments of the city, San Marco Basilica and the Palazzo del Doge. Afternoon free for shopping or more sightseeing.

 

 

The archeological site and museum of Concordia and Portogruaro (half day)
Concordia Sagittaria was a prosperous Roman colony founded in 42 B.C. on the crossroads between the Roman via Annia and via Postumia and the watercourse of the Lemene River. Later it became a vital early-Christian community. The archeological site is rich in ruins from the IV-V centuries, although most of the finds are now preserved in the neighbor town of Portogruaro. In the museum one can see statues, mosaics, inscriptions dating back to the early history of the area, whereas the town of Portogruaro itself is rich in beautiful private palaces of the XIV and XV century. 

 

 

 

The Lagoon Valleys (Boat trip, half day)
The area has been since the 1960s a Special Protected Area for its immense ecological richness. The wetland and woodland of Caorle Lagoons are habitat for a notable variety of plant and animal species, and are wonderful location for bird watching. The beauty of Valleys was immortalized in the written pages by Ernest Hemingway who frequently visited in the 1930s and 40s. In his novel Across the river and into the trees (1948) he wrote:

“an autumn of splendid days, of short rains that leave the sky clearer than before and light up with rainbow the neck and the head of mallards and pintails that fly up unexpectedly from canebrakes towards spaces that seem eternal. The silences are very sweet. The noises are those of a grey mullet that darts here and there at half-air and falls back in the water, of the rustling of leaves hardly moved from the wind, of the call of migratory birds that arrive after a long travel from the Eastern countries and come down circling above the lagoon of Caorle, which has remained ancient in its humors and in the taste of life.”

 

Lison-Pramaggiore D.O.C. Winery (half day)
Veneto is a region renowned worldwide for its excellent wine production (soave, bardolino, valpolicella, prosecco are just a few of the numerous Veneto wines). Just outside of Caorle is one of Veneto most important D.O.C. area, the Lison-Pramaggiore D.O.C., where D.O.C. stands for Denominazione di origine controllata that is wines with appellation of quality. We visit one of the area’s cantine (winery). We explore the process of wine production, the history and peculiarity of the region, and we enjoy a tasting of the local famous Tocai, Cabernet and Pinot Grigio.

Gorizia (day trip)
Gorizia is the crossover of three cultures: Italian, Austrian and Slovenian. Part of the Austrian Hapsburg empire since the XVI century, it was called the “Austrian Nice (Nizza)” as it was a favorite destination for Austrian noblemen who came to sojourn here in the summer months. It then became part of Italy after World War I, although some of the province territory was handed over to Yugoslavia and became part of the confederate state of Slovenia. Samples of the rich history of the town can be seen in the numerous pleasant monuments such as the medieval Castle, the Baroque cathedral and the church of Saint’Ignazio, and the numerous Austrian palaces.  

Sesto al Reghena (half day)
The Abbey at Sesto al Reghena is one of the last examples of Medieval Abbeys survived in Italy. Dating back originally to the IX century, it went completely destroyed during the Barbarian Invasions, therefore in the reconstruction process it was provided with defensive walls and towers that make it resembles to a mediaeval castle. Inside, splendid frescos from the XII and XIII centuries are still amazingly preserved. 

Mosaics School and Museum, Spilimbergo (half day)
Founded in 1922, the School of Mosaic in the Friuli town of Spilimbergo is one of a kind. Students from all over the world attend the three year school to learn and master different methods and composition techniques - Roman, Byzantine, modern – and a variety of materials. In the guided tour of the school, we learn about the history of mosaics and the different techniques, and we see artists at work.

The calendar of excursions and the corresponding prices are available at the school. All trips take place at discretion of the School directors, provided a sufficient number of students interested.